"This isn't just about today," Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said Tuesday. "This is about stabilizing the system and helping to grow the system, improve the system, make the system more efficient and more effective for the riders and the businesses and the community out there."

The county has agreed to give $4.5 million more in annual transit funding. Fitzgerald said $1.5 million will come from the existing drink tax and car rental tax, and an application will be submitted to the Regional Asset District for the rest.

Amalgamated Transit Union 85 has ratified a new four-year contract, which the Port Authority Board of Directors approved Tuesday morning. It includes the following savings:

- A two-year wage freeze ($19.6 million savings).- Increase in employee pension contributions from 5.5 percent to 10.5 percent of wages ($26.8 million savings).- Changes to vacation eligibility ($11.3 million savings.- Union will reopen the agreement in 2014 to modify healthcare coverage and has committed to reducing spending on healthcare by $1.8 million.- Remaining savings of $300,000 by in-sourcing some maintenance instead of contracting.- Increasing pension contributions of non-union employees from 4.5 percent to 10.5 percent, plus departmental cost reductions ($10 million savings).

State Transportation Secretary Barry Schoch called it "a ground-breaking contract" that meets Gov. Tom Corbett's desire for a more permanent solution to the Port Authority's legacy costs and budget problems, rather than the temporary fixes of recent years.

"It's never easy, but our members stepped up," union President Steve Palonis Palonis said. Union attorney Joe Pass added, "Our members spoke very loudly that they are willing to sacrifice."

Earlier this month, Corbett said the state stood ready to help if the Port Authority and its union could reach a deal first. Now, the union is calling on him to make good with permanent, dedicated funding for public transit, whether it be from tolls, taxes or some other source.

"If the governor doesn't come through with dedicated funding, we're not going to sit here and negotiate against ourselves ever again," Palonis said.

Charlie Morton pitched five-hit ball for seven innings, Neil Walker hit a review-aided home run and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-0 Sunday in a testy game in which benches cleared after All-Stars Andrew Mcutchen and Brandon Phillips were hit by pitches.